Tag: Ariadne

Layers of Labyrinths

I have been dreaming of labyrinths, layers and layers of labyrinths coming up from underneath the ground. Each one is deeper and more ancient, uncovering more layers of wisdom coming forth to be seen, to be worn with feet walking paths of spiritual longing. Each layer of labyrinths holds a reservoir of energy released as it comes to the surface. This immense source of energy scares me, it is a lot to hold and be responsible for, with great power comes great responsibility.

The labyrinth is familiar, a seven circuit labyrinth as found in Crete where the story unwinds of Ariadne, and her magical thread from the center of the labyrinth, guides a path for her love for Theseus to find his way back to her from his quest to kill the Minotaur. Ariadne is a weaver, who rivaled Aphrodite, which is never a good idea to go up against Aphrodite.

She chose another path beyond her family of origin when she fell in love with Theseus, who was on a quest to enter the labyrinth and slay the Minotaur that was considered a hideous creature gone wrong, part beast and part human.

A sacred contract not honored with Jupiter, who produced a divine bovine from the depths of the sea in order to favor King Minos and the power he yields. The King did not honor his agreement by making offerings to the god Poseidon as a sign of appreciation. He instead chose to keep the fine specimen of a bull. Aphrodite enchanted the wife of King Minos to feel uncontrollable passion for the Bull, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a man bull monster who had a taste for eating humans. The labyrinth harbors their family secrets.

Ariadne is interested in the quest of Theseus to slay the Minotaur, and decides to help him navigate the labyrinth by providing a string to find his way back. Her bargain with him in doing so is to become his wife. They sail away together, but not happily ever after, he leaves her on the island of Naxos, where she later meets Dionysius who becomes her husband.

This story is one of betrayal, and mistruths, and how life can become distorted when we misplace our power, lack gratitude for our gifts, and betray ourselves with a bargain that does not guarantee love in return.

So what layers lie beneath this story? The labyrinth was built and designed by Daedalus, an ingenious architect and sculptor. King Minos ultimately imprisoned him and his son Icarus in the Labyrinth tower, after he assisted Ariadne and Theseus to escape the labyrinth. While imprisoned, he created wings to enable their escape from Crete. His son however, did not take his father’s advice and flew too close to the Sun and melted the wings, which caused his falling into the sea and drowning. Another layer of hubris emerges in this saga, where men with power, make errors in judgement to bring about their own demise, rather than bring about freedom.

With all of these layers to the story, one must wonder why the fascination with labyrinths have spread around the world, as a meditation on the path of the soul in connection with spirit at the center, however in the myth of the labyrinth, the center holds what is hidden, the ugly truth of what happens when we misuse our power, and how it continues to impact everyone it touches.

I have worked with labyrinths for more than ten years as part of the Women’s Retreats I offer. The labyrinth becomes a path of walking in the footsteps of the ancestors, and the seven circuits is are seven generations of the ancestors, and the return path of becoming an ancestor and how our choices impact 7 generations in the future. In the footsteps of the Ancestors we may feel the burdens carried by those behind us, and in becoming an Ancestor in the return journey we feel the responsibility of what are actions are today and how they impact future generations. In my mind, this meditation is more in line with the myth of the Labyrinth, which teaches us to be mindful of how we use our powers and to what end.

The Weaver

Since the Spring Equinox of 2021, I’ve been dreaming with the Weaver. She paid me a visit in my dreams on that night, and I’ve been tracking her wisdom in myth, stories and dreams.

The Weaver – 3-21-21

I woke this morning from a mysterious dream of an older woman who was tall and slender and learned as a weaver. She was there to teach me her skill at weaving, and told me it was time for me to learn what she had to teach me, I can no longer put it off. I knew it was true, but I did not feel a desire to learn from her, whose energy seemed harsh to me, and I felt weaving is not a skill I am prone to naturally. I could see by learning this skill, it would set my path to a crossroads where I would have to make a choice about the direction of my life, but without this skill, I would not make it to this crossroads. The deeper teachings being transmitted through the practice of weaving include connection, discernment and inclusion. The ability to see the threads of fate and destiny and make choices. I knew internally I need the teachings of the weaver, but I do not want these lessons to be harsh. The weaver teacher has a need to share her wisdom, and if the student does not choose to weave, then she cannot share her life’s work and her gifts go to waste. She carries both a sadness and resentment about this, that weighs on her slight frame. She is a Crone and guide, able to teach me about the strands of my life, that can be woven into a beautiful path and sacred container.

Waking – Aware of the struggles of being at the beginning of something, and learning something new that will affect my life journey, leading me to a crossroads.

Action – Invite the weaver into my dreams open to learning and practicing her gifts.

Spider Woman of Teotihuacan, Mexico

There are many stories and myths about the Weaver, she is the ancient wise woman who weaves the world. The Mayan Goddess Ix Chel brought weaving to women, was a midwife and psychopomp who oversaw all phases of life and death, fate and destiny as measured by the moon and the stars. The Spider Woman of Teotihuacan, Mexico predates the Aztec culture, and is also called the Great Mother Goddess. Similar stories of Grandmother Spider as Weaver can be found in by indigenous people of the Anasazi (Pueblo), Hopi, and Dine’ (Navajo) Southwestern Native Indian stories. Canyon de Chille, AZ in the four corners area holds a site sacred to Na’ashje’ii Asdzaa (Grandmother Spider). Spider Woman Rock is a red rock spire rising over 800 feet from the canyon floor like a giant needle. Spider Woman was said to have woven a web from this place that covers the vast area of the Navaho lands.

Spider Woman Rock in Canyon de Chille, AZ

Baba Yaga of Slavic origin, Athena and Arachne of the Greek Myths and Ariadne of the Labyrinth in Crete are all weavers. There is the well known western fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, who pricks her finger on a needle from a spinning wheel to fulfill her fate. There are the 3 Fates also called the Norns in Scandinavia, and the Moirai in Greek myth known as Clothos (spinner), Lachesis (allotter) and Atropos (unturnable). The Primordial Greek Serpent Goddess Ananke is said to have created herself, before weaving the world. The Egyptian Goddess Nuit is another Cosmic Weaver and one of the oldest weavers of the Universe. So many stories of weaver, so many webs to unfurl.

Web Walker 4-15-21

I am conscious in this dream, suddenly transported to a dark desert canyon, where a woman stands dressed in a sheer white cotton blouse and skirt. She has black hair with a few white streaks. She has a round sweet Native face. The narrow canyon she enters is in striated grey tones. She walks in her bare feet on a sandy path deeper into the narrows of the shadowy canyon. She steps into a circle of moonlight shining on the path. She makes eye contact with me, and looks down at her feet, showing me the layers, upon layers, of webs loosely wrapped around her ankles. The webs carry stories, and she walks with ease and keeps a slow and careful steady pace. They do not constrict her movement, but her stride is small, and she must walk with intention in every step she makes, to be sure and safely carry the many folds of webbing draped around her ankles. Deeper she goes into this ancient sacred place. She carries the dreams and stories of her people to awaken them in the deep womb of the Great Mother.

“Web Walker Canyon” by Valley Reed
in watercolors all rights reserved.
Valley Reed © 2021